DOWN GRANGE will witness a key game in London division one tomorrow when third placed Basingstoke take on Sutton and Epsom, who are just one spot above them.

After eight games, Sutton lie a point ahead of Ian Calder's side, but the Kiwi player-coach is counting on his team's excellent home form as an extra man the visitors will have to negotiate.

Calder told The Gazette: "The boys enjoy playing at home and have built up a little bit of a fortress at Down Grange.

"We have had a lot of unbeaten teams come here so far this season with good reputations, and they have left defeated, so we have got to be confident about doing the same to Sutton tomorrow.

"They will be formidable opposition and I know that after they beat Staines well they have a reasonable forward line, so we will have to be strong in that area."

Calder is looking for an improved performance after last week's 13-13 draw away at Staines.

"It was one of those games I don't know how and why we stayed in touch, but we gave ourselves the chance of a draw and took it.

"That was the one encouraging thing from the game. Collectively we looked a little sleepy in the forward line, but you have to remember that for many of the players this is their first year of senior rugby."

Basingstoke still have injuries and unavailability robbing Calder of fielding his strongest side.

Phil Della-Savina is missing because of his troublesome shoulder and Matt Dangerfield is still on holiday.

However, Chris Norton returns at full-back, while Nigel Hooker also returned to training on Wednesday after his recent cartilage operation.

"When all 15 of our guys gel we are a good side, but it's difficult when injuries and unavailability prevent the best side going out.

"But that's when other players get their chance. Robbie Holmes has done that with Matt's absence and has made the most of it."

Calder will be looking to take full points from tomorrow's clash with Havant four points clear at the top of the table.

"We need to catch them up, but they haven't really played anybody of note away yet, so it will be interesting to see how they fare when they do.

"But we have to look at tomorrow's game first, as the table will not reveal its pecking order until about February.

"It is a big one but we are confident of getting another good result at home."

Basingstoke: Norton, Holmes, Rees, N Taylor, Jones, Calder, S Taylor, Reeves, Baker, Hopkins, Drawbridge, Wilson, Collins, Riley, Young.